CBS Anchor Itay Hod: When Is It Okay To Out Someone?

Openly gay CBS journalist Itay Hod (pictured) has started an interesting conversation on Facebook regarding when and if it's okay to "out" an individual.

He provides the hypothetical (maybe not so hypothetical example) of an allegedly closeted Illinois Republican congressman with a vehemently anti-gay voting record (and a pretty flamboyant Instagram account.)

Is it acceptable for the media to out an individual that actively and hypocritically works against the LGBT community?

people always say, no one has the right to out anyone. that coming out is a private matter. i disagree. as you can imagine, not a very popular opinion. but bear with me.

here's a hypothetical: what if you know a certain GOP congressman, let's just say from Illinois, is gay... and you know this because one of your friends, a journalist for a reputable network, told you in no uncertain terms that he caught that GOP congressman and his male roommate in the shower... together. now they could have been good friends just trying to conserve water. but there's more. what if this congressman has also been caught by tmz cameras trolling gay bars. now what if you know that this very same guy, the darling of the gop, has also voted against repeal of don’t ask don’t tell, opposed the repeal of doma, is against gay marriage; and for the federal marriage amendment, which would add language to the us constitution banning gay marriage and would likely strike down every gay rights law and ordinance in the country?

Are we still not allowed to out him?

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue, Instincters? Is it ever okay to out someone?

If Schock is gay. Heteros LOVE when they see this kind of gay infighting. This blood in the gay shark tank of cross accusations and rabid forced outings....it feeds into every preconceived notion/stereotype that the non-gay community wants to believe about gays being self-destructive nasty and vicious towards one another. "Let them infight whilst we continue to keep them down".

Schock's political **AGENDA** is what needs to be attacked and who cares who he's fucking....

You owe the man, nothing. The man has been actively engaged to harm the gay community. He is a a pawn to be overthrown. Were he honest; But alas, he is not. Out him! He is despicable and cruel. Such people reap the whirlwind.

This is my second comment on this subject. After thinking a little more about your "concern" Itay Hod, I realized that you would not be so upset over this Congressman, unless he did something personal to you, or your friend. Maybe both. May be what you are telling us is not the whole story? That you have some sort of personal vendetta against this Congressman. Maybe, you met him, and he wasn't interested in you? Maybe you dated, and he dumped you? Maybe you are jealous that he is a Congressman, and he has more power than you? No one would be this angry, or question this Congressman's homophobic activity, unless there was some personal anger tied up in this. I am doubtful you are telling us the whole story. If you know in your heart this to be true, and you are not doing this for the gay movement alone, but to get even, and start trouble, I would stop now. Leave it alone, and move forward with your own life. "Don't throw stones at glass houses"! You have already exposed this Congressman, and leave it at that.

What if he votes for for the people in his district who elected him....and yet he personally doesn't agree with every vote.....we as a community shouldn't be so quick to condemn. I agree that Itay has his motives.

So, if a man is gay, or a woman is a lesbian, or even bisexual, they must automatically and openly join, adopt, adhere to and champion every plank of the LGBT platform? Does that mean that, because I am a woman, I must embrace every aspect of feminism... Or because I am Christian, I must accept every interpretation of the Bible... Or because I am a conservative, I must agree in lockstep with every other conservative? And if I don't, I will be victimized by having my privacy invaded by extremist, entitled, elitist jerks like you?

Interesting question. My answer is "maybe". 'Outing' someone is generally vicious, tacky, mean and wrong. Unless your proof is personal, one-on-one, and factual, you really should be respectful of his human rights. Even if this person is very effeminate and obvious, outing them, makes the 'outer' look just as bad, and maybe even worse. Hearsay, does not necessarily make this factual. The 'climate' in America is quickly changing, and much of the educated liberal public are feeling 'live and let live". Be kind to one another, etc... Human sexuality is a touchy subject because people can have multiple and different sexual needs, and it is unfair to point fingers. I also do not know what the legality issues are. There may be a possible slander suit against someone that says negative things about another person, particularly about a US Congress member. Starting harmful rumors about an individual can seriously backfire. You probably have already done some serious damage to this Congressman, and I personally would leave it at that. You have already given enough information about this Congressman to give the public a good idea about who you are describing. My advice is to let it go now. You have already made your point. Do not stoop as low as him. You will just look like a jealous evil queen. That's my opinion.

Out him. I consider myself Republican (blasphemy, I've been told by my far left-leaning friends and even straight allies), however I'm SO over the hypocrisy of the far right that it embarrasses me. Out the son of a bitch now.

People are in the public eye for different reasons. I'm not sure we can apply the same standards to everyone. Even different people in the same line of work might really have different and good reasons. For instance, an actor who tries to stay closeted because they need to be able sell an image without prejudice -- it's not necessarily different than a straight actor who just stays private because they're a serious actor and not a fame-monger. Someone who is in public service, in politics, that's a bit different. They're serving a constituency and ultimately they're accountable to their voters and the whole country. In the past, politics has been a life-under-the-microscope situation with any marital infidelities or bribes quickly exposed. Is being in the closet comparable? I'm not sure, but with a conflict of interest this big it calls into question their integrity and that might be justification.

Yes, of course. Out him, and don't look back. If you weigh the ethical questions, there's no question.

For you outing him: what would happen? Some people might get angry and wag their fingers at you. In extreme cases you may be passed over for some jobs for the idea that you would.

For him if you outed him: he would get the scarlet letter he so very much needs, first. Second, he may even be embarrassed enough to step down. If he were to step down and retire many gay folks would benefit from one less opponent. And he might be forced to face reality and make that journey, because however frightened he is of it, he needs to make it.

I think that publicly outing a private person would be wrong in my book of ethics. However, the example you've come up with is interesting. Here you have a public figure with an obvious internal struggle and negative self-perception beliefs. He is clearly fighting himself and his own true nature. Perhaps it would be best for him, in this instance, to hold the mirror up to him so that he can view his own reality. I believe doing this in a kind manner would benefit not only this congressman, but many more people who find themselves in a similar situation.